Drier



R. SADWITH Nov. 22, 1932.

DRIER Filed Nov. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet e Si ATTORNY R. SADWITH Nov. 22, 1932.

DRIER Filed Nov) 1s, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES RYAN SAJDWITH, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY DRIER Application led November 13, 1929. Serial No. 406,735.

This invention relates to a drier. In various trades such as metalithography, printing or coatino on tin plate and other branches of the printing trade wherein mevtallic plates are used during various of the processes it becomes necessary to subject the metallic plates to a proper heat treatment and drying. Various mechanical driers have been invented but in the use of mechanical drying great ditliculty has been found in the proper distribution of the air, in the proper control of the heat and in the proper control of the volume and quantity of heat. In most driers the plates are carried by hooks or bales supported by a travelling carrier which passes through the drier. These bales or hooks are relatively close together so that it is diilicult to secure an even distribution ofthe drying air between the relativelyclose positioned plates while they are'in motion in the drier on the carrier. The conditions of the industry generally require open ended driers and the infiltration of the room air makes the control ofthe hot air within the drier uncertain. I n the usual form of drier the temperature may be controlled but the temperatures of one zone will always have approximately the same relationship with that of another zone. In other words, if a curve of the heat is plotted the curve will be of the same shape regardless of the temperature for the drier. This is disadvantageous as certain plates may require a relatively high heat followed by a slowly descending temperature or followed `by a constant temperature. Again other plates may require a relatively low initial temperature of heat treatment followed by an ascending temperature or a constant temperature. Still other forms of plates may require alternate zones of relatively high and low temperatures.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a drier for metallic plates wherein the drying air is properly distributed over the metal plates.

Another object vof the invention is to provide a drier wherein the temperature of one section of the drier may be had independently of other sections. A further object of the invention is to provide a drier having means .duced to a minimum.

Still another object of theinvention is to C5 provide a more efficient and economical drier.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a device embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1 along the line 2, 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3, ,3, 'of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. f

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detailed view of the plenum inlet duct showingthe damper control.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal detailed section- 80 al View of the plenum inlet duct showing the damper control governing the admission of the air to the drying chamber.

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.

In carrying out my invention I propose to provide a housing 1, having an outer covering 2, of heat insulating material. Housi 1 has open ends 3 and 4 and is supported y legs 5 and 6. Air spills 7 and 8'are located adjacent the end openings 3 and 4 in the 99 roof of the housing 1. Within housing 1, I provide a plate conveyor which conveyor consists of endless'chains 9, 10, vcarrying hooks or bales 12, and driving sprockets 13, 14, which move the chains 9,10. Sprockets 18, 14, are 95 journaled upon driving shafts 15l and 16 which may be driven by belti'ng or gearing in the well known manner. Idler wheels, or as shown tracks 11, support the chains 9, 10, between sprockets 13 and 14. Within housing 100 1 at the bottom thereof I provide plenum (inlet) air chambers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, which are ofunique construction and design. Each chamber 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, is an interchangeable section, easily cleaned, removable and having exterior controlof the dampers for each section. The roof 23 vof each section has openings therein, a damper 24 having similarly' shaped and correspondingly ositioned openings therein is adapted to slitiJ on roof 23 of each chamber to open or partially open to the desired degree the openings formed by the coinciding or partial coincidence of the openings in the roof 23 of each chamber and the openings of damper 24. The positioning of dampers 24 is governed by test and they can then be set initially for even distribution of air and require no further adjustment. Dampers 24 are controlled by rod 25 terminating exteriorly of housing 1 in handle 26. Within hous- -ingl are chambers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, corresponding in number and position with chamber 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Within chambers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, are dampers 33, similar in every respect to dam ers 24 ex'- cept they operate on the floor of t e chamber and not the roof. Dampers 33 are likewise controlled byrod 34 terminating in handle 35 outside of housing 1. To each plenum or inlet chamber 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, is led hot air inlet duct 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, respectively, having individualdampers 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, in each duct to control the quantity of heated air to be delivered to each chamber, these dampers can be manually or thermostatically controlled as desired. Duets 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, lead from a common supply duct 48 which takes its supply of heated air from a recirculation fan 49 of the pushing and pulling type which is run at a1 constant speed. To each exhaust air chamber 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, is led an exhaust air duct 50, 51', 52, 5 3, 54, and 55, respectively.

' Dampers 6f are in each duct to control the quantit of air exhausted from the chambers b the an 49. These dampers may be manua ly or automatically operated by thermostatic control. -Exh`aust ducts 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55, lead to a common duct 57 which inVv turn empties into fan intake 58 of fan 49. Also connected to the fan intake 58 is pipe 59 from heater 60. A damper 67, is in pipe to control the amount of fresh hot air that shall be added 'to maintain the properl temperatures in the drier. The heater has a maxistat 61 positioned in pipe 59, and through thermostat 62 positioned inside heater 1. The operation is as follows:

'. Fan 49 takes the exhaust air mixed vvith the proper quantity of fresh heated air to raise the -exhaust air tol the necessary and desired temperature and drives it through 40, 41, past dampers 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, to chambers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, ast dampers 24 up through and between t e plates 69 supported by hooks 12 on chains 9, 10, thence through exhaust dampers 33 in the chambers 27, 28, 29,30, 31, 32, each corresponding 'to the chamber directly below it. The exhaust air is exhausted past dampers- 56 in each duct 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55, to and through duct 57 to intake 58 of fan 49 Where it has again mixed with fresh hot air from heater 60. Itl is desirable that the pressure in the drier housing 1 be slightly greater than atmospheric to preventtoo great an infiltration of air into the drier aty the open ends 3 and 4. Air spills 7 and 8 cause an up draft carrying with the heated air most of the infiltration air and prevent the workmen from becoming annoyed by the heated gases that would oth-V erwise escape from the ends 3 and 4.

It will thus be seen that the proper distribution of the heated air and the control of the quantity and temperature is accomplished by the zone division of the plenum or inlet chambers and the corresponding zone division of the exhaust chambers Within the drier with the damper control of the zones outside vof the housing to control the static4 pressure in the plenum chambers and the static suction of the exhaust chamber and thereby to control the pressure between the plenum chamber and the exhaust chamber in each section of the heater.

It will further be seen that the individual chambers controlled by the sliding dampers control the volume of the air in each section of the drier. The temperature is controlled i trolling means either manually or thermostaticall as desired.

This invention is applicable for use as a drier for metallic or non-metallic plates and although I have shown the endless chain conveyor entirely within the drier, yet I do not desire to be limited in that respect nor in the shape of housing 1 nor of the positioning of the ducts or heater nor to adrier open at both ends or at one end. These and other modifications may be made and still fall y Within the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A drier for metal lithographie plates or the like comprising an open end housing having a single open end compartment lengthwise thereof, a source of drying medium, a plurality of plenum chambers within and at the top of said housing, said source of drying medium severally connected to each of said chambers, means for controlling the quantity and velocity of drying medium to eachsof said chambers, outlets from said chambers to the interior of said drier, corresponding outlet chambers to said plenum chambers,

said outlet chambers positioned within saidl drier at the top thereof, openings from the interior of said drier to said outlet chambers, a circulation fan for said drying medium, connections from said chambers culation fan.

2. A drier for metal lithographie plates or the like comprising an open end housing having an open end single drying compartment lengthwise thereof, a source of drying medium, a circulation fan for said drylng medium, a plurality of plenum chambers within and at the bottom of said housing, a manifold connection between said circulation fan and each of said plenum chambers, means for controlling the quantity of drying medium iiowing out of said ducts to said plenum chambers, outlets from said chambers to the interior of said drier, sliding dampers to control the heating medium passing through said outlets, outlet chambers corresponding to said plenum chambers, said outlet chambers positioned within said drier at the top thereof, openings from the interior of said drier to said outlet chambers, sliding dampers to control the drying medium for said outlet chamber openings, manifold connections from each of said outlet chambers to said circulation fan.

3. A drier for metallic plates and the like, comprising a. housing, a circulation fan for a drying medium, sectional plenum chambers within said housing at the bottom thereof, corresponding outlet Achambers within said housing at the top thereof, a source of drying medium, a conduit from said source of drying medium, said conduit terminating in a manifold with connections to each of said plenum chambers, openings from said plenum chambers to the interior of said drier, outlet chambers within said drier at the top thereof, said outlet chambers being sectional and corresponding in osition and number to said plenum cham ers, openings in said outlet chambers to communicate with the interior of said drier, an outlet manifold connecting with each of said outlet chambers and communicating with said circulation fan.

4. A drier for metallic plates and the like, comprising a housing, sectional plenum chambers within said housing at the bottom thereof, corresponding outlet chambers within said housing at the top thereof, a source of drying medium, a conduit from said source of drying medium to a mixing chamber, a

and said cirinterior of said drier, dampers for said openings, outlet chambers within said drier at the top thereof, said outlet chambers being sectional and corresponding in position and number to said plenum chambers, openings in said outlet chambers to communicate with the interior of said drier, dampers for the openings of each of said outlet chambers, an outlet manifold connecting with each of said outlet chambers yand terminating in a duct connected to said mixing chamber of said circulation fan.

5. A drlerfor metallic plates and the like, comprising a housing, a circulation fan for the drying medium, removable, individual, sectional plenum chambers within said housing at the bottom and lengthwise thereof, in-

`let ducts communicating with said plenum chambers and with said circulation fan, dampers within each of said ducts, openings from each of said ducts to the interiory of said housing, dampers for said openings for each of said plenum chambers, corresponding outlet chambers within said drier, each corresponding outlet chamber positioned at the top of said drier directly over its corresponding plenum chamber, openings in said outlet chambers to the interior of said housing, dampers for said vopenings in said outlet chambers, exhaust ducts communicating with each of sai'd outlet chambers and with said circulation fan, separate dampers 'in each of said exhaust ducts.

6. A drier for metallic plates and the like, comprising a housing'having an open end, a circulation fan to circulate a drying'medium, said housing -having a plurality of plenum chambers within said housing at the bottom thereof and lengthwise of the drier, ducts from said fan for supplying to each of said plenum chambers said drying medium, means for independently controlling the quantity of said drying medium to each of drier to the interior of said outlet chambers,

ducts for conducting the exhaust heating medium from said Voutlet chambers to said circulation fan.

7. A drier forl metallic plates and the like,

-comprising a housing having an open end, a 7' 'said chambers, outlets from said plenum fan for circulatincr a drying medium, air spills in the top ot said drier at each end, said housing having a plurality of plenum chambers within said housing atthe bottom thereof; ducts from. said fan for supplying to each of said plenum chambers drying medium, and means for independently control# ling the quantity of said drying mediumv to each of said chambers, openings from said plenum chambers to the interior of said housing, means for controlling and distributing the flow of heating medium from said chambers to the interior of said housing, out-let chambers at the top of said housing, means for controlling the distributionand quantityv of the heating medium to the interior of said chambers, a mixing chamber on the intake side of said circulation fan, ductsfor conducting the exhaust heating medium from each of said outlet chambers to said mixing chamber and a conduit to said mixing chamber from a source of heated drying medium.

8. A drier for drying metallic plates and the like, comprising a housingopen at both ends, spills in the top thereof adjacent each end, a fan, a heater supplying heated air to mixing chamber, a mixing chamber on the intake side of said fan, a damper between said heater and said mixing chamber to control the quantity of heated drying medium to said fan, means for controlling the maximum temperature ofthe drying medium delivered to said mixing chamber, exhaust ducts delivering to said Vmixing' chamber whereby 'the exhausted air is mixed with the additional heated air from said heater and delivered by said fan to a hot air duct, said hot air duct terminating in a manifold, each of the arms of said manifold communicating with separate, individual, removable plenum chambers within said housing, openings from said plenum chambers communicating with the interior of said housing, exteriorly operated dampers for'said openings, individual, removable outlet chambers within said vr"housing and at the Vtop thereof, openings from/the interior oisaid housing to said outlet chambers, dampers exteriorly operated for said openings, said exhaust ducts leading from said outlet chambers to said mixing chamber to permit of the recirculation by the fan after the addition of the requisite additional drying medium from said heater.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 17th day y of October A. D. 1929.

RYAN SADWITH. 

